How To: Track your Reader’s Response using Google Website Optimizer and WordPress (Video)

A/B testing, it’s a technique used to track an audience’s response by comparing the success of different text, layouts, images and colors. This technique has been used in direct mail marketing for years, but now major technology companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft are using the technique prior to launching major website changes. Even bloggers are getting in A/B testing. A recent article by Nieman’s Journalism Lab, discussed the Huffington Post’s use of A/B testing to crowdsource their blog titles. As most of you know the title of an article is just as — if not more — important than the content. With that in mind, the Huffington Post built an in house application, that randomly shows its readers one of two headlines for the same story. After a few minutes the title with the most clicks becomes the title that everyone sees. The Huffington Post’s A/B test was built completely in house, but now thanks to a handy WordPress Plug-in,  Google Website Optimizer, and this screencast video tutorial I conducted below you too can do basic A/B testing on your own blog. Please leave feedback. Enjoy!

AB Testing using Google Website Optimizer from blackweb20 on Vimeo.

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See all posts by Markus Robinson.